Student & Family Resources

Teens across the US can get a Brooklyn Public Library Card to access ebooks!

Loaner Tablets Available to Kids at 4 Public Libraries

Immigrant Resource Guide

MCPS Student Services Programs, Updates, & Resources

FARMS 22-23 Application

Food Access for MCPS Students & Families

988 is our new Behavioral Health Crisis Response Hotline

Here’s more information

MCPS Community Resource Guide

How to Get the COVID-19 Vaccine

Food Distributions this week

COVID Testing this week

MCPS’ LGBTQ+ Website

LAYC Drop In Center

(Showers, Laundry, & Food Access for Youth)

2023 MELLFIN Scholarship Application (google.com)

The MELLFIN Scholarships are annual scholarship awards for current or exited ESOL students in Maryland who are graduating high school seniors and have demonstrated a commitment to attend college or a post-secondary career training program. MELLFIN is facilitating multiple scholarship awards to recognize excellence and support students in realizing their post-secondary aspirations. The total award for each student recipient will be $1,000 to help cover costs associated with post-secondary program attendance. Multiple scholarships will be available.

Eligible student applicants must:

- currently be enrolled and classified as a senior in Maryland Public Schools

- currently be in an ESOL program or have exited the ESOL program within the past three (3) years

- currently have a GPA of 3.0 or better

- be on track to graduate in Spring 2023

All applications and all required documents outlined in this application must be submitted online no later than April 3, 2023 at 11:59 pm.

SNAP/Food Stamps Updates from the Montgomery County Food Council:

• Free School Meals for Maryland Students
  Laura Hale, Director of Government Relations, American Heart Association
  Email: laura.hale@heart.org
  
  Please email Laura directly to join the Healthy School Meals for All Coalition. She will also share more information and materials relating to advocacy efforts as they are available.
  

• SNAP Policy Updates and MD Legislative Session Preview
  JD Robinson, Anti-Hunger Program Coordinator - SNAP, Maryland Hunger Solutions
  Email: jdrobinson@mdhungersolutions.org
  
  Emergency Allotments will be ending either at the end of February or the end of March.
  From the federal perspective they end at the end of February, however, the State can request a grace month, which would then extend them into March, and MD Hunger Solutions in talks with MD DHS to see if that is indeed a possibility for Maryland.
  
  What can we do to help?
  Ensure that households are receiving the correct benefit amount by making sure they're claiming their appropriate deductions:

• • Housing/Utility Costs: Rent and utilities which include anything used to heat or cool the home. All need to be reported accurately and up to date with what is currently being paid by the household.

  • Childcare Expenses: These often go unreported, especially for households that are mixed status. These expenses can be deducted if it allows another family member in that SNAP household to go to work or to attend school. It doesn't need to be through a daycare or a childcare facility--if someone in the household is taking any children to a family member's house or a friend's house, and they are paying that person to look after them, that's an allowable expense. The documentation for this can simply be in the form of a letter agreement between the head of household that is paying for the child care and the person providing the child care, which includes the provider’s name and phone number. This information is NOT used to determine the provider’s immigration status, licensure status, or payment of taxes. Families can take this deduction even if they are only receiving benefits for their children.

  • Medical Deductions: This applies to families with a monthly recurring out of pocket medical expense of $35 or more, and are particularly relevant to households that include older adults or a family member with disabilities.

  • Direct residents to organizations like Maryland Hunger Solutions or the Montgomery County Food Council to file what's called the Change Report which allows households to self declare any changes that have occurred to their household size, their income, or their expenses. Do this before emergency allotments end so that everything is ready to go to minimize the decrease in benefits.